The government wants us to recycle glass - an admirable green initiative, given that the 13 tonnes of waste glass drink bottles currently collected every day in Hong Kong accounts for less than 10 per cent of the total thrown away.

I read an article regarding glass recycling in Hong Kong and it really blew my mind. It said only 3 per cent of glass bottles were recycled and that the government doesn't pay attention to this problem, refusing subsidies for glass recycling volunteers.

High-rise luxury housing blocks are so common in Hong Kong that the safety of their installations has been taken for granted. Their sleek design and sky-high prices are often assumed to be a guarantee of high-quality workmanship and good management. Sadly, this is not always the case. The low standards imposed by the building authorities have apparently added to the problems.

Developer Sun Hung Kai Properties will spend tens of millions of dollars replacing tempered-glass windows in more than 1,000 flats at its luxury estate The Arch. Nearly 60 glass panels have shattered or fallen out there since 2008.

Residents living in fear of breaking windows in two luxury high-rise apartment complexes say the Buildings Department and developers have ignored their concerns about safety and depreciating property values.

Glass panels that have fallen from the walls of two luxury estates have been diagnosed with "glass cancer", which is caused by an impurity common in tempered glass and which can be prevented only by stringent quality control.

Many Hongkongers harbour secret fantasies of breaking down the walls of their homes, welcoming light and a sense of freedom into their lives. Far from being poetic, this desire to live without boundaries is a pragmatic solution to cramped urban living.

Blurring the divide between living spaces is the core principle behind transparent boundaries.